Many hours in gym pay off

Jeff SeidelThe Baltimore Sun

John Carroll senior Mike Maczko is a true "gym rat." He would often follow his father, Terry - now the men's basketball coach at Baltimore City Community College and a former coach at CCBC-Essex and Edgewood - to games and scouting trips.

The younger Maczko put in a lot of hours in gyms to hone his skills. It has paid off, as he accepted a scholarship to play for the New Jersey Institute of Technology, a Division I school. Maczko, 6 feet 6, has developed into an effective three-point shooter as a part-time starter/sixth man.

Away from the court, he does community service work and has a 3.2 grade point average. Maczko said his favorite class is calculus because he loves a challenge

When did you first start playing basketball?

I first started playing basketball when I was around 5. I first started playing at Essex Community College when my dad was coaching there way back when. That's where I spent a lot of my time growing up and developed a real passion for the game, and people started calling me a gym rat.

How much do you talk to your father about your game and how to improve it?

I talk to my dad a lot about the game and what I need to improve on. He's a big reason why I am the player I am today. Doing drills in the backyard, working on my form, everything.

Why did you choose New Jersey Institute for college?

I saw a lot of opportunities there. I can get a good education, and I know I can make an impact on the team. I want to be a part of something that's trying to make a name and make themselves known. It doesn't hurt that they're 10 minutes away from New York City, too.

What is your major going to be, and what do you want to do for a career?

As far as what I want to major in and what I want to be when I grow up, I'm undecided. But I do know that I am going to get a solid education and do the best I can.

What's in your iPod?

I've been listening to a lot of Kanye West, Common and Daft Punk.

What's your favorite sport to play other than basketball?

I'd say pingpong. My friends and I have some pretty intense games every once in a while.

How much fun has it been to play at John Carroll the past few years while coach Tony Martin has turned the program around?

It's been fun playing at John Carroll. We're just a big family. We've all been playing and friends with each other since we were young. And it's always fun starting out on the bottom and try to work your way to the top.

Who is your favorite basketball player to watch?

My favorite player to watch is Steve Nash. He can be flashy sometimes, but when it comes down to it, he does what is needed of him.

If you could sit down and talk with anyone in the world for an hour, who would it be?

I would have to say Larry Bird. I read about him all the time. How he grew up, his college experience. I love the way he played, real old school. He is one of my idols.

When you look back at high school years, what will be your favorite memory when it comes to the basketball team?

What I think my favorite memory will be are the real tough practices we have from time to time. We'd all know if we were going to have a rough practice after a real bad game or when Coach was disappointed in us for some reason, but we'd all stick together and really fight through. We all rely on each other, and that's what I'll definitely remember.